Freedom

Leading into retirement, when people are asked, they will often say “freedom” is what they most look forward to.  They usually want to “travel, spend time with loved ones, and pursue what they choose.”

I think that is a perfect, well-rounded freedom plan heading into retirement.  They are not wrong.

Ability

But, let me get right to it, freedom is one of the greatest gifts that saving and preparing for retirement may grant you.  However, I think there may be another very powerful noun that is my word of 2026: Ability.

Maybe “ability” is a higher-level response than freedom.  Much in the same way people use agency.

Having freedom is amazing.  But how many people who’ve earned this freedom are not able (abie-ity) to take full advantage of all it entails.  Hell, what is “all” that it could entail?

There are so many people and stories of people who cannot do the things they desire.  Some do not have the fitness or health.  Some have family commitments and responsibilities.  Some have others who depend on them.  Some are just not able to take the action to do something, maybe out of fear of the unknown.  Or the one that I think many of us over-super-planners may continually try to calculate in what-ifs.

“Spend” time

Most people want to spend their time doing what they are interested in.  Spending time doing what they want to, what they choose to.

I’ve read articles that we should not use the word “spend” when related to time.  I don’t agree with the hypothesis “you cannot spend time” because it will pass no matter what you do.

I do think the most precious thing we have is time.  Especially if you consider healthy time. 

Having the ability to do what you want at this time is truly valuable.

If the preceding thought is “valuable,” then isn’t spending an accurate term?  The costs/value equation.

Equations

This just popped in my head, “something and somehow.”  Maybe that’s a simplified version of the task and equation to do it.  Or maybe it’s “what’s a yes, what’s a no?”  Even in FIRE, there are still tradeoffs, either for time or for money, or even for the balance of home relations.

In Conclusion

If you have a desire for a hell yes, and you have the ability, then go for it–and don’t wait.  The future is now. 

If you look back to recent months or years, you will realize we are living in the unknown future right now.

*** Nothing in this article is to be construed as financial advice.  I am not a financial planner, nor do I pretend to be.  You should always consult your own professional when seeking advice. This post is not a piece of literary mastery, just a random thought I had.

I saw that a local restaurant had a Thursday special.  They have 10 wings for $10.

For some reason, this struck me as “what kind of deal is that?”  How is $1 per wing a good price?

Time Matters

This is where the gap in actions shows the span of time—the gap in purchase time.

We used to go out for the wing special at a local “tavern.”  The last time we went, the prices were 10-cent wings.  Yes, it was a crazy low price then $1.20 per down.

On Fact Central (Facebook), there was a post in a FI group asking about how closely people followed the 4% (or other %) rule, like it was the gospel of cash flow.  Their question steered towards the guardrails withdrawal approach, which is structured to withdraw more (spending) when markets are good and less (spending) when markets are bad.  SUPER INTERESTING strategy.

I should have put these thoughts in the previous post, but they came together later.

I was thinking more about some of the case studies I’ve been around.  I think of two people who tend to share their advice from their perspective quite often.

When someone shares their thoughts (like some random typer like me) on the internet or in person, it’s important to know where they’re coming from.  What is their perspective?  What is the foundation their basing their thought/position on?  What is their past?

Current FI Mode. 

Where on the FI journey is the thought-person?  Notice I didn’t say “though LEADER.”  I’m so sick of “leaders” and “influencers.”  All of this spewing of thoughts is nothing more than someone wanting to share something for themself.  Yep, I get the irony.

I’m at the beach home.  I’m just hanging out doing my normal things.  Exercise, Relax, Compute, Observe, Repeat.

Observation

I notice a common, consistent thread—young women often travel in clusters and very frequently have a clear cup with an ice beverage that slips away through their straw.